Hawk Watch Coordinator- Cape Henlopen State Park

DELAWARE NATURE SOCIETY INC•Lewes, DE

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Founded in 1964, the Delaware Nature Society (DelNature) is a state-wide, non-profit organization that aspires to be inclusive and multicultural, celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity in nature and people. Our mission is to connect people and nature to create a healthy environment for all, through education, conservation, and advocacy. DelNature delivers hands-on environmental education and conservation programs at four sites: Ashland Nature Center (HQ), in Hockessin, DE; DuPont Environmental Education Center, in Wilmington, DE; Coverdale Farm Preserve, in Greenville, DE; and Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, in Milford, DE. At these and other sites, we also manage over 2,000 acres of land, including four nature preserves. DelNature is a state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. We envision Delaware as a place where people view themselves as part of nature and understand that nature is essential for life; recognize the immediacy of addressing environmental issues; and take pride and joy in caring for the natural world. We are looking for a candidate that is extremely competent with raptor identification to count the numbers of each species migrating south along the Atlantic coast during the fall. The ideal candidate should be comfortable working independently as well as with assistants, and be outgoing, friendly, and able to interpret hawk migration to visitors of different ages and levels of knowledge. This is a 40-hour/week position, September through November. A telescope and binoculars will be provided. The long-running Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch is a partnership between the Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS), the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), and the Delaware Nature Society (DNS). It takes place on a platform overlooking the sea at Cape Henlopen State Park, a popular state park in south Delaware. 5,000 to 20,000 raptors of at least fifteen species are expected each fall. This position reports to the Delaware Nature Society Ornithologist.

Requirements

Must be able to identify eastern raptors in flight, sometimes at great distances, and preferably all other birds likely to be encountered.
Must be willing and able to interpret raptor migration for the public and work well with people in general, including volunteers.
Must be outgoing and welcoming to visitors.
Must be able to tolerate a variety of outside conditions including heat, cold, wind, and biting insects.
Must be computer literate (Excel, Word, eBird, mailing lists) and capable of entering data in an on-line database.
Background check required.

Responsibilities

Maintain a consistent presence as the official hawk counter at the hawkwatch Tuesday through Saturday each week, September 1 through November 30.
Interpret hawk migration for visiting groups and individuals.
Manage and train volunteer hawk counters and data assistants.
Track and report volunteer hours.
Compile daily totals and submit them to the Hawk Migration Association database.
Update outdoor tally boards at end of each day.
Post a daily summary of raptor migration as well as other avian highlights to the Delaware birding listserv (DE-birds).
Enter data on raptors plus other birds into e-Bird each day.
Prepare a series of bi-monthly reports to DNREC and DNS as well as preparing a final season report for publication in the Delaware Ornithologist journal.
Ensure all DelNature policies and procedures, including health and safety protocols, are implemented and always enforced.
Ensure volunteers follow state park regulations.
Promote and support DelNature’s mission, values, goals, activities and membership to a wide array of audiences.
Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor or senior leadership staff.